Ronald Sullivan

Tuesday

Mar 25, 2014 at 6:00 AM

MIDDLEBURY, VT. - Ronald Patrick Sullivan, 78 of Middlebury, Vermont, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2014 at Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. Born on April 11, 1935 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Cornelius and Beatrice (Croteau) Sullivan he attended the College of the Holy Cross before joining the Navy.

While on active duty, he served on the USS Antietam (CV 36), the world's first true angled-deck aircraft carrier. The highlight of his naval career came in October 1956. Antietam cruised to the waters of the eastern Atlantic for NATO ASW exercises and goodwill visits to ports in allied countries. While the carrier was in Rotterdam, the Suez crisis broke out in the eastern Mediterranean. Antietam cut short her visit and headed for the Mediterranean to bolster the 6th Fleet during the evacuation of American citizens from Alexandria, Egypt.

After his service, he completed his studies at Worcester Junior College, served in the Naval Reserves and spent his engineering career at NYNEX before retiring in the early 1990s.

In retirement he enjoyed daily visits to local diners for coffee and conversation, hiking the mountains of New England and traveling. His travels took him to favorite spots in the Florida Keys, numerous Caribbean islands and Panama. His last international trip was to South Korea, where he attended his son's wedding.

Survivors include sons Patrick Sullivan and his wife Jacqueline of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, Timothy Sullivan of Honolulu, Hawaii and Garret Sullivan and his wife Hyunju of Colchester, Vermont; daughters Patrice Paquette and her husband Michael of New Haven, Vermont, Tara Sargent and her husband Basil of Hudson, New Hampshire and Erin Sullivan of Los Angeles, California; seven grandchildren as well as his former wife, Marilyn Kelly of Middlebury, Vermont along with his dear sister, Joan Conroy of Worcester, Massachusetts and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held in Worcester, Massachusetts at a later date. Ron's children would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for the compassionate care they've provided the last few years. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club or to Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

- Irish Blessing

Arrangements were under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home, Middlebury. www.sandersonfueralservice.com